Family Caregiver Support

For people caring for an aging parent, spouse, or an adult child with disabilities, or an older adult raising a grandchild. Caregiving can turn your life upside down. We’ll help you get it right again.

Caregiving could be one of the most important things you ever do. It can be challenging and rewarding—and often frustrating. The Family Caregiver Support Program provides the support and services you need.

If you’re a caregiver, you are not alone. Did you know...

• One quarter of American families—or roughly 54 million people—care for an older family member, an adult child with disabilities, or a friend.

• Nearly 44% of all caregivers are men.

• More than one in three caregivers live with the care recipient.

• More than half the family caregivers are between the ages of 35 and 64—struggling to balance work, children, and caregiving

Finding ways to cope with the strains and stresses of caregiving can be challenging, but we are here to help. These are some of the services we provide:

• In-home assessments to help you determine how much and what kinds of care are needed

• Information about the resources available and referrals to the specific services and programs that meet your needs

• Counseling and support groups to help you cope with the stress, worry, and loneliness that caregivers often experience

• Education and training in the skills that caregiving requires and specialized support in dealing with the effects of Alzheimer's disease and dementia

• Support groups where caregivers share both their difficulties and their tips for supporting their loved ones

• Meetings with caregivers individually and as a family to work on particular needs.

The easiest sign to recognize when someone may be developing Alzheimer's disease or dementia is when they start having trouble communicating. Changes in the ability to communicate when one is suffering from Alzheimer's or dementia are unique to each person. A caregiver may recognize differences in a person with dementia such as:

If the person has difficulty hearing:
• Approach the person from the front
• Stand directly in front of the person when speaking to him or her
• Get the person's attention by saying his or her name, and give a gentle touch
• Speak slowly and clearly
• Use a lower tone of voice
• Use unspoken communication like pointing, gesturing or touch
• Write things down, if needed
• If he or she has a hearing aid, encourage the person to wear it; check the battery often

If the person has difficulty seeing:
• Avoid startling the person
• Don 't make loud noises or sudden movements
• Identify yourself as you approach the person
• Tell the person of your intentions before you begin
• Use large-print or audiotape materials, if available
• If he or she has glasses, encourage the person to wear them; keep them clean and have the prescription checked regularly

Who is this program best for?

We offer free services to any resident of Lynn, Lynnfield, Nahant, Saugus, or Swampscott, who is caring for a family member or friend or caregivers of people age 60 and older who live in our service area. We are available to talk with you about your caregiving challenges and how our program might be of help to you. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions.

(If you do not live in any of these communities, you can visitwww.800ageinfo.comto find a similar program in your home area)

As always, if this program isn't right for you, we will work to find a program to fit your particular needs. Please call us with any questions between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM , Monday through Friday, or email us any time at info@glss.net.

Program Events and Workshops

We offer support groups in Lynn, Lynnfield, and Saugus. We also regularly provide training programs, such as Savvy Caregiver. Our “In the Moment” Memory Café meets on the third Thursday of every month at the Lynn Museum from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon. Please call for details or see additional information below.

Where can I get more information?

To learn more about aging services in Massachusetts, call 1-800-age-info (1-800-243-4636) or visit800ageinfo.com.

Program Brochure

Family Caregiver Support Program

Click the Caregiver Brochure to download the brochure for the Family Caregiver Support Program.

Newsletter

About Our Company

GLSS is a non-profit agency established in 1976 to serve those over 60, adults of all ages with disabilities, and their families in Lynn, Lynnfield, Nahant, Saugus, and Swampscott. Many of our programs reach beyond our five-community service area, helping people throughout the North Shore.

GLSS and its programs are funded, in whole or in part, by contract or grants with the U.S. Administration for Community Living, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the Older Americans Act, local funds, foundations, and private contributions.